In the dark reaches of the castle, hours after, n revealed himself to Ryuji. He now stands before his brother, watching him drink from a golden goblet with a sour face. Though n would never betray Ryuji, he asked for his permission first.


    "You say, because of that Hero, Liana has conquered the curse that took her mother''s life?" King Grigor''s dull eyes seemed to contain a mixture of emotions, from frustration to a flicker of joy and regret.


    n knew this topic hurt his brother and tried to avoid it as much as he could.


    "Ryuji has shown the ability to conquer his inborn nature, and because he was born half-human from ''that'' man''s bloodline. It seems that he has no desire to cause damage to the world or kingdom. He just enjoys fighting strong opponents and sleeping with his beastkin and hero lover."


    Because he knew his brother''s mind, n didn''t hide Ryuji''s actions and mind. These things could be discovered easily. However, if n covered for Ryuji badly, then his brother''s mind might go down a bad path that led to cmity.


    "n, I do not doubt your love for the kingdom and our Grigor bloodline." The king leaned back, sipping from his goblet, revealing only his sharp eyes over the rip, causing n''s spin to shiver while his brother''s gaze felt it could see through him entirely. "You really like him, don''t you?"


    King Grigor took a deep breath before tilting his empty goblet. "Can you assure me he will not cause damage to our kingdom or make Liana cry?"


    "I cannot assure you he won''t cause damage because he likes to fight. As for Liana, what do you mean, brother?"


    "Don''t be stupid, my silly little brother. Do you think a father doesn''t know when his daughter changes? It isn''t for a reason. Kathryn has told me! Even Velvet let me know the reason for most witches'' awakening. Isn''t theck of this kind of meeting why Alice still hasn''t awakened?"


    "..." n swallowed, his through felt full while feeling stupid for not answering his brother truthfully.


    Anyone could see how Liana felt towards Ryuji. Her eyes glowed the moment she saw him, the skinship that Liana never would have done in the past. The fear n felt about his precious niece getting hurt because of their different status and thoughts about the world.


    "Brother..."


    "n, I am not some monster. However, the kingdom has toe first. Liana is a part of this kingdom, and as its princess, she also has her role. You understand that she isn''t free to love who she wants."


    These words, n remembers hearing his mother''s words while drunk when he was a child. She spoke of her husband as the man who stole her love.


    This kind ofplex part of being born with the Grigor bloodline made n feel isted.


    "However, n!" The king''s loud voice awoke him from his stupor.


    "—if you can make him worthy of the kingdom of standing beside Liana. I will trust your judgement and honour your current feelings. It''s not like Liana is the only one I understand, dear brother. You told him your true role despite knowing he is your sworn enemy... Did you not think of how much I would worry for you!?"


    n gasped. He thought about his stupid actions and realised from the weary look on his brother''s face that he might have acted too hastily.


    Only his brother, the witches, and Kathryn knew of n''s true role and ss.


    "However, what is that boy? Instead of rejecting your friendship, he epts... This is the first time, n. For the first time in thousands of years, our family has ruled this nation that a demon king has sided with us! Did you think I would be stubborn and fixated on our past shes with the demon queen of the north and dismiss your feelings?"


    "Brother, you mean..."


    "n, this is our chance. To use the weapon of the enemy against them!" The eyes of King Grigor shone bright, his lips curled into a wicked smile, revealing his pearly white teeth as he grasped his hands and leaned on the arms of his throne.


    "I understand, but please, at least try to ept Ryuji and not just see him as a weapon or pawn. He is my first friend..."


    The mood of the room flickeredfrom a serious and foreboding atmosphere to that of two brothers as the king''s serious gaze faded, his eyes loosened, and hislips curled into a more genuine and warm smile. "You, I''ve never seen you make that face before, haha.


    No, I remember, when we used to make trouble in the pce gardens, and you would get embarrassed about having a crush on the young maid from the east because she looked like your mother!"


    "Brother!?"


    "Hahaha! Okay, don''t cry, n. A hero should always remain cool and dashing! Your own words."


    "I will leave!"


    "Okay, calm down, after that stiff discussion and seeking each other''s thoughts and plots. Come join your brother for a drink—though it''s not a wife, it''s a good start—ah also, arrange a dinner after the chosen tournament."


    n turned away his lips pouting. "I''ll find a wife, stop nagging me!"


    "My Liana will probably be married and pregnant before you start dating someone at this rate. Haha."


    "But who is the dinner for?"


    The king shrugged his shoulders and gave a familiar grin, one that n remembered when they were both young princes, and they would trick their parents when they snuck into the dungeons together and end up in the most dangerous situations.


    "I will make the effort because you came to me, n. If he can adapt and show the calibre of a noble, then I will move him to the top of Liana''s engagement partners. Though he is only a bar if he performs well in the tournament, I shall find a reason to live his status so even that fool Qwass stopsining."


    "Brother! I love you!" n rushed up to his brother and hugged him tight. A pair of grown men embracing in a dark room felt a little strange, even more so for the king of a nation whose face became awkward as his lips twitched.


    "n, anyone who saw you might think it was you that loved that boy... Are you?


    "I like women!"


    "G-Good, make sure you find a good woman soon. I can''t bear to let Mother above worry about you so much."


    n slipped away from the king and sat beside him on a stool. They both drank from their goblets while looking out of the window, watching the stars in silence.


    Sometimes, the pair would do this, a sort of remembrance of their mother and the nights she would sing for them under the stars, a fond memory for the brothers.


    "Brother, I feel that the future might be dangerous. A war ising that I do not know if I can survive." n whispered while his hand stretched out towards the moon, his body bathed in the glistening ethereal light, making him look like a fairy prince.


    "...."


    King Grigor didn''t respond because he, too, felt the future wasn''t looking bright. He thought back to the soothsayers and diviners,menting that the kingdom of Grigor would not exist in fifty years.


    That''s why he epted the situation with Ryuji instead of having him executed immediately.


    ''If I must use a demon to save my family, my people. I will dly drink from the same cup as a demon. My dear brother n, I will never let you die. No matter what those frauds said, you cannot die. You are my other half... the light that illuminates my dull life.''


    The king''s eyes shone only when n stood beside him, a pride for him that his brother was the hero of his people and such a kindhearted man.


    "The future will be difficult, but n, I believe we can rise above the chaos."


    "I will fight to myst breath to protect our kingdom and family, brother." n sipped thest of his goblet, standing from his stool as he walked towards the door. "With the help of a little demon, I am confident I can fight 200% harder, haha. Goodnight, Brother—please sleep well. You haven''t looked well recently!"


    King Grigor watched n leave, his hand reaching out to his brother, dangling as the room became silent; darkness seemed to seep into the room from the corners the moment n left.


    "n... That is what I fear the most..."